CHICAGO, Ill. – Old Dominion University senior linebacker TJ Ricks was named to the Butkus Award Watch List, given to the best linebacker in the nation.
Ricks was named to the Nagurski Trophy Watch List last week given to the nation's most outstanding defensive player.
He led Conference USA in tackles last season with an ODU single-season record of 123 and finished 11th in the FBS with 10.2 tackles per game. He also added 2.5 sacks, 5.5 tackles for loss, seven pass breakups and an interception. He notched six double-digit tackle games and registered a single-game ODU record with 18 tackles against Charlotte.
A native of Hampton, Ricks is currently fourth on the Monarchs’ career tackles list with 221, 120 stops behind leader Craig Wilkins.
A former walk-on, Ricks was a semifinalist last season for the Brandon Burlsworth Trophy, given to the best player that starts their career as a walk-on.
The Butkus Award, www.thebutkusaward.com and on Facebook at 51.butkus, is presented by the Butkus Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit organization. The Butkus Award is part of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) which includes the 22 most prestigious awards in college football with 722 years of selection excellence. Visit www.NCFAA.org for more information.